In the center of Blanco, Texas, lies a hidden treasure that brings the past to life: the Buggy Barn Museum. This unique establishment, which proudly houses an impressive collection of over 250 buggies, carriages, and wagons, is more than just a museum; it is a testament to the passion for preserving the stories of the past.

At the helm of operations for the Buggy Barn Museum is Amanda Smith, who has been instrumental in shaping the museum’s vision and day-to-day activities. In this interview, we will delve into Amanda’s journey, her deep-rooted connection to the Buggy Barn Museum and the role she plays in its evolving narrative.

From the moment her father, Dennis Moore, proposed the idea of creating a museum, Amanda has been an unwavering supporter of his vision. What started as a modest collection of buggies has blossomed into a vibrant cultural hub for visitors seeking to explore the rich history of the American West. With a childhood spent alongside her father, helping him pursue his passion for vintage carriages, Amanda’s involvement has grown significantly over the years. Today, as the museum’s manager and coordinator, she is poised to guide both casual visitors and film industry professionals alike through a journey that intertwines education, enjoyment and historical appreciation.

Amanda’s commitment to keeping history alive is evident not only through her management of the Buggy Barn Museum but also in the museum’s engaging programs and events that cater to a diverse audience. It is this blend of nostalgia, authenticity, and community spirit that makes the Buggy Barn Museum a must-visit destination, whether you’re a history buff, a film enthusiast or simply looking for a memorable family outing. Join us as we uncover more about Amanda’s journey with the Buggy Barn Museum and the incredible stories behind an extraordinary collection.

Can you share your journey with The Buggy Barn Museum? What inspired you to get involved, and what role do you play in its operations?

“My journey with the Buggy Barn Museum has started from the very beginning. Ever since my dad said, ‘I think we should open a museum,’ I was in full agreement with him. My dad, Dennis Moore, always thinking, has a plan, a vision. This journey started very simply with having an open building space. My dad decided to display the few buggies he had collected so the public could appreciate them and we could keep history alive. Never did I quite imagine that this vision would turn out to be what the Buggy Barn Museum is today. Now, I too have embraced having a vision and making it into a reality. 

“My inspiration to be involved was the fact that I love working alongside my dad. I have done so ever since I was three years old. He has had his own trucking and construction business since he was 18 years old, and I was always his shotgun rider then, just as I am now. I wanted to help him as much as I could, and within the past several years my job has increased to the point that I am now the manager and coordinator of the entire museum and Old West town. When someone calls to book a film, video, commercial, group tour, wedding, etc, they will call or email me, and I will coordinate it for them. I can provide the information they are looking for, however detailed they need; whether just from location to theme of wedding and bringing in gun-slingers. My job is to provide friendly, open communications between our museum and town so that the customer and guests feel comfortable when they visit us, and everything runs smoothly.”

The museum boasts an impressive collection of over 250 unique buggies, carriages, and wagons. Can you tell us about some of the most interesting pieces in the collection and their historical significance?

“Yes, our collection is quite unique in that there are no two the same, with carriages dating back from 1840 to 1914. We have several one-of-a-kind pieces, including a 1 of 4 wagon from the Netherlands from 1944. This piece is unique in that we call it our puzzle wagon. It was a versatile wagon used for families, but then you would pull the seats out and sides off and it would convert into a hay wagon. This wagon is very ornate, in that it is hand carved by a gentleman of the name Jan Van Peet. This man only made four of these unique hand carved wagons with dates from 1930, 1931, 1944 and 1971. This one, the one from 1944, was sold a couple of times and ended up here in the States, where we found it in Georgia at an auction. The other three are still in the Netherlands. What makes this one even more fascinating is that last year I was contacted by a gentleman in the Netherlands who happened to see a photo of this wagon online. After doing some research, we discovered this was one of the four wagons of this maker. The gentleman was extremely excited because he had been searching for this wagon for 30 years! He was afraid it had gotten destroyed or lost, but so relieved we had it safe in our collection.”

Several buggies in your collection have been featured in films and TV series. Which ones stand out the most to you, and how did those opportunities come about?

“The carriage and wagons that stand out the most to me, are the ones that were used in the remake of True Grit, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter; Killers of the Flower Moon, 1923, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, and, of course, The Chosen. 

“These opportunities presented themselves to us because my dad’s collection of wagons and carriages grew so much that we became the place to go for wagons. When we first started, my dad had some friends in the movie business, and when they needed some wagons they would call my dad. As our collection grows, they visit to scout the wagons and carriages or we send pictures of what they may be looking for.  Some of the buggies we have in the museum have already been in movies or shows, like the jail wagon, which was used in Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.  They then used it again for 1883: Bass Reeves.”

The Buggy Barn Museum has an intriguing history. Who founded the museum and what motivated them to create this unique experience for visitors?

“The Buggy Barn Museum was started by my dad, Dennis Moore, who is a fifth generation Blancoian, and his love for authentic western carriages, buggies, and wagons. This love started when he was just a young boy who dreamed of the Old West. Over the years, that dream turned into a reality. His passion for preserving our western heritage led him to establish the Buggy Barn Museum right here in his hometown of Blanco, Texas, in 2011. When he grew up watching westerns, he noticed there were always the same ole wagons in the westerns; however, once he started collecting them, he realized there were many different kinds, makes and models. That made him want to share with others and open the museum.

“One of the main goals of the museum is preservation of these carriages and our history; not only the carriages, but the town and all the artifacts, props, saddles, guns and more that he has in his collection. His hobby of having these carriages, and taking myself and my brother (& friends) to prom here at the Blanco Courthouse, along with providing carriages for weddings, parades and other events, has turned into a beautiful business adventure. Visitors are often mesmerized when they stop in because they are not expecting to see everything that is behind the Pine Moore entrance. I’ve often had people say that they were expecting to see a couple of buggies, but they were completely impressed by our collection. We even have visitors that are regulars. They will come once or twice a year, and every time they come, they bring another guest with them. To us, that speaks volumes that they love it here that much. They tell us that they can’t wait to come back to see what we have changed or added.”

What exciting upcoming activities or events can visitors look forward to this year? Are there any annual events that you would recommend for first-time guests?

“Every April we have a knife throwing event, where competitors come from all over the States and even Canada to compete with each other in a fun three-day weekend event. They have pro and amateur divisions, and the public is welcome to come and watch. The first two days are more traditional throwing, and then on Sunday they have a lot of fun games.

“Every November, we have our annual Family Fun Day. On this day, we have music, entertainment, gunfighters, and a day full of family fun. We have sponsors to help us with this event as this is the annual fundraiser for our museum, so all proceeds go right back into our museum and town to help with improvements, repairs, and updates.

“We are in the process of other events so you will have to stay tuned for those! You can always follow our updates on our Facebook page, Instagram and website.”

Can you tell us more about the Pine Moore Old West Studio and its offerings? How does it enhance the overall experience for visitors and filmmakers?

“Pine Moore Old West Studio was another vision my dad had that we turned into a reality and started building with the resources, materials and funds we had. The first part of the town that we started was acquired by some portable buildings from the local school that they were selling. So we made a plan on how we envisioned our Old West town to look. Once we brought the buildings in, we placed them. We started on the church first, and then the mercantile, homestead, and then the saloon. As I mentioned, we worked on the town as we were able to – time, material, and money. Most of the wood that is on the buildings came from an old movie set that was being demolished, and they allowed us to take the wood. During the Covid shutdown, we decided to use that time to repair and build what we could; we started our event center, and then in 2021, we added our Texas Ranger building. 

“Our town continues to grow; it is fully functional with a Texas Ranger building with jail cell, event center with small kitchen, saloon, cemetery, church, gallows, cabin, post office, homestead, mercantile, holding room, barber shop and dentist, stagecoach stop, and stables. Not only do we have all of these rooms, we have the props available in each room that visitors can see and filmmakers can use. Pine Moore is unique because not only is it used for filming, we use it for parties, weddings, car clubs, music videos, photo shoots and more! As for filmmaking, it is a dream come true because, like I previously mentioned, we have most of the props that are needed.

“For both guests and filmmakers, they do truly feel like they have stepped back into the old west. A sense of calmness goes through them and, for just a little while, they get to be a part of the Wild West.”

The museum promotes educational opportunities for schools and groups. What kinds of programs do you offer, and how do they enrich the visitor experience?

“The Buggy Barn Museum promotes educational opportunities for not only schools, but also many different groups. When a school or group calls me, we will set up a time frame of how long they have to be here; that way our team knows how long to spend in the museum and the town. Our tour guides will guide them through the museum, explaining the history of the museum, the buggies, and answer any questions they may have. Depending on how long they are staying, some school groups like to bring their lunches and have a picnic under our trees in the Old West town. When the groups get to explore the Old West town or walk into our old jail cell, it really makes them feel like they are a part of the Old West. This is an unknown feeling for most of them, who have only heard about it or maybe seen it in a movie; but for us, it’s important that they know this is part of their history.

“Our tour guide, Pistol Packin’ Paula, is a two-time world champion gun twirler, and she will normally do a small demonstration for the groups, as well, at the end of the tour and that really is a big hit for everyone.”

The Buggy Barn Museum is located in beautiful Blanco, Texas. How does the surrounding area and community contribute to the museum’s mission and success?

“The surrounding areas reach out to us for their local events, to help with local parades and events they may be having. We provide our Old West town for the father/daughter dance. We light the streets and provide horse and carriage rides. The girls love getting dressed up and playing in the Old West town, and also being able to take a horse-drawn carriage ride. Our local chamber of commerce helps by spreading what events we have going on and sending people our direction when they come into town. We participate in the annual Light Night (every Halloween) at the local Baptist Church, once again providing horse drawn buggies for the families to enjoy. The surrounding towns have us participate with their annual Christmas events. We bring our horses and buggies and give rides throughout different weekends, and it makes the holidays more special. We also work closely with a surrounding place where they help many different people to get them accustomed to the world again.”

As a manager, how do you envision the future of The Buggy Barn Museum? Are there any specific goals or initiatives you hope to implement in the coming years?

“As manager, I only see the Buggy Barn Museum growing and becoming one of the most known places to visit, not only in Texas, but in the world. I see the Buggy Barn Museum becoming the Top Tourist destination in America.

“My dad started this dream, and I want to make his dream bigger than he could even imagine. I want people to understand the heart and soul my dad has poured into this museum and town; every donation, every contribution, everything, goes back into making this place what it is. It’s not only our job; it is our life and passion.

“I have dreams and ideas to make this place even better, as I am my father’s daughter. There are always plans and ideas in the works, so my brain is constantly thinking of ways to improve, expand, or grow.”

For more information, please visit the Buggy Barn Museum website: Buggy Barn Museum – Home.

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Cover photo courtesy the Buggy Barn Museum

Bob Valleau is a regular entertainment writer for Texas Lifestyle Magazine.